2007-08-31 07:49:39 · 5 answers · asked by Kirk 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Songbird gets it
2007-08-31 08:42:11 · update #1
Wow, Americans have given up. Just read these answers. Rights are those power the people of the United States of America reserved for themselves and did not give to the Government.
The Bill of Rights, deal with many of those rights specifically. They explain the restriction on the government. The right to free speech may not be abridge. Free Press. No establishment of a State Religion. Right to bear arms may not be abridged.
The point is a right is not given. It is something we the governed own. It is Ours. The biggest problem is that far to many on the Right and the Left feel that the collective us only have rights as long as we are given them.
When asked what form of government we had, Ben Franklin said, "A republic, if you can keep it."
As long as the Democrats can say, "Bush sucks", and the Republicans can say "Clinton Sucks", we will still be free.
The day you cannot, is the day you do not have rights.
2007-08-31 08:34:45 · answer #1 · answered by Songbyrd JPA ✡ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A "right" is a power, privilege, or immunity secured to a person by law. So the first thing you must have is law, and the law must specifically guarantee whatever "right" you may be trying to assert. Do the citizens of the U.S. have a right against self-incrimination? Yes -- it's outlined in the Fifth Amendment to The Constitution. Do we have the right to privacy? NO -- this right is not guaranteed ANYWHERE in The Constitution, the United States Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, or any body of state law. The Fourth Amendment to The Constitution gives us the immunity from search and seizure without just cause, but the fact that the government is empowered to search when just cause has been established shows there is no right to privacy and our Founding Fathers never intended for citizens to have an absolute right to privacy. See how it works?
2007-08-31 08:02:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rights are contractural obligations that a government bestows upon its citizens and it is responsible for ensuring that the rights of all its citizens are not violated.
2007-08-31 07:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Pfo 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You only have rights as long as you can defend them.
2007-08-31 08:01:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what I think.
2007-08-31 08:20:54 · answer #5 · answered by jrldsmith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋